"I have good reason to know him—he is my first-cousin," answered the rector.
"You have good reason to know him—a reason that you are ignorant of.
Shall I tell you that reason, Mr. Dale?"
"I am ready to hear what you have to say; but I must warn you that I shall be but little affected by it."
"Beware how you regard my solemn warning as the raving of a lunatic. It is your life that is at stake, Lionel Dale—your life! The reason you ought to know Reginald Eversleigh is, that in him you have a deadly enemy."
"An enemy! My cousin Reginald, a man whom I never injured by deed or word in my life! Has he ever tried to injure me?"
"He has."
"How?"
"He schemed and plotted against you and others before your uncle Sir Oswald's death. His dearest hope was to bring to pass the destruction of the will which left you five thousand a year."
"Indeed! You seem familiar with my family history," exclaimed Lionel.
"I know the secrets of your family as well as I know those of my own."